Abstract

Despite poor economic prospects, South Africa is among a small number of countries providing relatively cheap food to its citizens, according to the Big Mac index. A McDonald's Big Mac hamburger costs R28 in South Africa, while it costs 178% more in the US. The index is used to measure purchasing power parity between nations, using the price of a Big Mac as the benchmark. Even with projected increase in food inflation of more than 10%, South Africans will be better off.